A GRUELLING fundraising challenge organised by a Barnt Green resident and former England international footballer has come to a successful end in Paris.

Geoff Thomas was diagnosed with leukaemia and given less than three months to live in 2003.

But the former Wolves midfielder - patron of the Cure Leukaemia charity - has been in remission since 2005 and has worked tirelessly to raise money for treatment, research and awareness for blood cancer.

Geoff Thomas' challenge, Le Tour – One Day Ahead, saw fundraisers ride the entire Tour de France route over 23 days, a day ahead of the professional peloton.

The fundraiser began in Utrecht, Holland, on July 3 and participants climbed 40,000 metres in pedalling almost 2,100 miles.

Among those who took part was Bromsgrove triathlete star Helen Russell who required stitches after crashing during stage two.

Simon Gueller, from Yorkshire, impressively took on the challenge just three weeks after suffering a collapsed lung and broken ribs.

The team had to contend with 40-plus degree heat, wall-like ascents and frightening mountain-top thunderstorms while riding an average of 110 miles a day.

Riders support staff were kept busy treating dehydration, saddle sores, sickness and blisters to keep the riders on their bikes as they were pushed to the limit.

The tour also gained world wide attention when controversial cyclist Lance Armstrong - stripped of seven Tour de France titles for doping - rode with the group to support the charity event.

Geoff Thomas defended the disgraced cyclist's participation saying he had paid his price and if it led to Armstrong raising millions for charity in the future, he couldn't see it doing any harm.

Team Sky's Chris Froome, who won the Tour de France on Sunday, said the event was a good cause near his heart as his mother died of blood cancer, and Armstrong's involvement had been a "non-event" for the Tour itself.

Overall the fundraising tour, as well as Geoff’s other major cycling challenge this summer London 2 Paris, has helped push the fundraising total for Cure Leukaemia past the £650,000 mark.

Geoff said: "It’s been really tough, and even the professionals a day behind us were saying it’s one of the toughest 21 days they’ve been through.

“Over the past three weeks individuals have earned respect in different ways and given everything. After a tense first three days, which was understandable, it’s been great to see the whole team gel and work together.

“We’ve put ourselves through such rigours purely for patients who desperately need new medicines and drugs, to give them a chance of life. No matter how torturous our challenge has been, it’s nothing compared to what blood cancer sufferers go through."

After the success of both Le Tour- One Day Ahead and London 2 Paris, it has been confirmed both will be staged again next year.

Geoff added that some good foundations for next year had been set, as fundraisers attempt to reach a £2 million target.

There is still time to make a donation by visiting fundraising page justgiving.com/Geoff-Thomas-2015.